圓 (yuán) - Round & circular

圓Tone 2

yuán ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

喻悦

圓 · yuán

Round;

circular;

spherical;

complete;

perfect;

the mathematical constant π;

a unit of currency.

Roundcircularspherical

Usage highlights

Round shapeCircular tableComplete successFull moonCurrency unitCircumference

Synonyms

  • 环— ring; loop; circular
  • 球— ball; sphere
  • 满— full; complete

Antonyms

  • 方— square; rectangular
  • 缺— deficient; incomplete
  • 扁— flat

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The moon is round (圆月).
  • We sat around a circular table (圆桌).
  • The story has a perfect ending (圆满结局).
  • The value of pi is approximately 3.14159 (圆周率).

Collocations

  • Round shape(圆形)
  • Circular table(圆桌)
  • Complete success(圆满)
  • Full moon(圆月)
  • Currency unit(圆 - Japanese yen/Chinese yuan)
  • Circumference(圆周)

Idioms

  • Perfect and satisfactory(圆满)
  • As round as the full moon(圆如满月)
  • Square pegs in round holes(方枘圆凿)
  • Make excuses to gloss over faults(自圆其说)
  • Round sky and square earth(天圆地方)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese philosophy, the circle represents heaven, perfection, and completeness, contrasting with the square which represents earth.
  • Round shapes are associated with harmony, reunion, and perfection in Chinese culture, evident in mooncakes during Mid-Autumn Festival.
  • The circular dining table (圆桌) symbolizes equality and family unity during meals.

FAQ